Barrier for doorways and the like



Nov. 26, 1957 w. c. PORTER BARRIER FOR DOORWAYS AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 27', 1956 a fidem ow Z/as' 5072 Cf far??? 1957 w. c. PORTER BARRIER FOR DOORWAYS AND Tm; LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 27, 1956 Tm Z ma Q 3m f; M W 6% a BARRIER FOR DOORWAYS AND THE LIKE Weston C. Porter, Burbank, Calif. Application September 27, 1956, Serial No. 612,455

9 Claims. (Cl. 160-216) This invention relates to closure devices for doorways and like openings and more particularly to a readily installed and removed barrier for such openings to prevent passage of small children or pets therethrough while leaving the passageway or opening open for observation.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a fence like closure or barrier for a passageway such as a door opening or hallway which is collapsible and which can readily be expanded into gripping engagement with the opposite sides of the passageway and which can quickly be disengaged therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide a barrier device in which the foregoing objective is realized and in which the said engagement is frictional, wherefore, the use of attaching devices afiixed to the point of attachment is dispensed with.

A further object of the invention is to provide a collapsible barrier for installation and removal in a doorway or like passageway which includes adjusting means to accommodate varying widths of passageways.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible, fence-like barrier for quick installation in and removal from doorways or like passageways which is so constructed as not to endanger the hands of the user when the barrier is being collapsed.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a barrier device in which the foregoing objectives are realized in practice and which is simple and sturdy in construction, is susceptible of economical manufacture, is easy to use, and is reliable for its intended purpose.

With the foregoing objects in view, together with such other objects and advantages as may subsequently appear, the invention resides in the parts, and in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts described, by way of example, in the following specification of certain presently preferred modes of execution of the invention; reference being bad to the accompanying drawings which form a part of said specification and in which drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational View of a barrier device embodying the invention as installed in a doorway and showing in dotted lines the initial position of the device as placed therein preparatory to being secured in place,

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the barrier shown in Fig. l,

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the collapsed device, the device being turned at right angles from the position shown in Fig. 1 for convenience in illustration,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged scale, fragmentary sectional view taken on theline 4-4 of Fig. 2 and is also typical of the similar area at the lower cross bar,

'Fig. '5 is an enlargedscale, fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 2 and is also typical of the similar area at the lower cross bar;

Figs. 6 and 7 are transverse sectional views taken on the lines 6-6 and 7-7, respectively, on Fig. 4, and are .also typical of the similar portions of the lower cross bar,

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view showing the means for securing the vertical bars to'the top and bottom frame 2,814,3 Paten'tecl Nov. 26, 1957 members; the view being taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 5,

Fig. 9 is a side elevational view of a modified form of the invention, and,

Fig. 10 is an enlarged scale, fragmentary sectional view taken of the portion of Fig. 9 corresponding to the portion of the first form of the invention disclosed in Fig. 5.

In general, the device is a parallel rule type of mechanism comprising main side bars 1 and 2 pivotally connected to top and bottom cross bar assemblies 3 and 4 at the ends thereof and a plurality of equally spaced vertical bars 5 having their ends pivotally connected to the top and bottom cross bars; all of said connections to be later described in detail. The device is adjusted so that when arranged in rectangular position the width is slightly greater than the space in which it is to be installed and it is placed in the doorway or like passageway, it occupies the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, then by forcing the raised end of the cross bars down to horizontal position, compression spring devices allow lateral yielding of the device and thereafter exert sufiicient pressure of the device against the sides of the opening in which it is placed to prevent movement thereof by such forces as a child or pet animal might exert against it. To remove the barrier device, it is simply lifted up at the end to about the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 and lifted out of the way.

The side bar 1 includes a round wooden rod 6 having an elongated slot 7 extending therethrough adjacent to the upper end thereof and an identical slot extending therethrough adjacent the lower end. Metal sleeves 8 and 9 surround the slotted portions of the rod and extend above and below the ends of said slots; said sleeves having a slot registering with one side of the elongated slots in the rod as shown by the slot 10 in Fig. 6; the sleeve closing the opposite side of the slot 7 and said slots being open on the side of the member 1 which faces the member 2. Pads 11 and 12 of rubber or suitable plastic cover the opposite side of the sleeves to provide a surface which will not mar the surface of the passageway engaged thereby. The rod 6 is provided with a second slot 13 extending therethrough at right angles to the slot 7 which affords guidance to the oppositely projecting ends of a cross pin 14 carried by the depending end 15 of an inverted L-shaped member 16 closely slidingly fitting the groove 7. The upper end of the end 15 of the member 16 carries .a pair of parallel, horizontally extending rods 17 and 18 disposed in spaced relation one above the other and the distal end of the upper rod 17 is threaded as at 19. Since the pivot point of the member 16 is at the lower end of the depending end 15, the member 16 can move between a position in which the rods 17 and 15 are at right angles to the rod 6 .and an angular position involving movement of the member 16 clockwise as viewed in Fig. 4; movement beyond the said right angle position in the opposite direction being resisted by engagement of the upper end of the end 15 with the inner face of the sleeve 8. The arrangement of parts within the sleeve 9 at the lower end of the rod 6 is identical with that above described, wherefore the members extending laterally therefrom are also identified as rods 17 and 18.

The cross bars 3 and 4 are identical and a description of the internal structure of the cross bar 3 as shown in Figs. 4, 5, 7 and 8 will serve for both. The cross bar 3 comprises a metal tube 20 through which a wooden rod 21 extends from the end adjacent the side member 1 to a point inwardly of the opposite end of the rod. At the end thereof adjacent the side member 1, the rod is provided with upper and lower clearance grooves 22 and 23 which combine with the inner wall of the tube 20 to form passages in which the ends of the rods 17 and 18 are respectively received for endwise movement. inwardly from the said end of the cross member, the

tube and rod are provided with transverse slots 24 and 24 which extend across the groove 22 to afford clearance for a thumb nut 25 threaded on the rod 17 and restrained against endwise movement by the ends of the slot 24; the periphery of the nut being preferably knurled and projecting slightly above the surface of the tube 20 for manual engagement and operation to move the side member toward and away from the end of the cross bar with resultant adjustment of the barrier to accommodate varying widths of passageways. The opposite ends of the cross bars are hingedly and longitudinally yieldingly connected to the upper and lower ends of the side member 2 by means now to be described with respect to the connection of the cross bar 3 to the upper end of the side member 2. The side member 2 comprises a wooden rod 26 having longitudinally extending slots disposed one each adjacent each end thereof; the upper slot 27 being disposed opposite the end of the cross bar 3, and the lower slot being similarly disposed with respect to the cross bar 4. Metal sleeves 28 and 29 surround the ends of the rod in the region of the said slots and have slots therein which register with the slots in the rod at the side thereof adjacent the cross bar and close the slots at the opposite side of the rod; said sleeves carrying rubber or suitable plastic pads 30 and 31 for engagement with the passageway. Pivotally mounted on a pin 32 adjacent the upper end of the slot 27 is the upper end of one arm 33 of an L-shaped member 34-; the lower end of said arm joining with two parallel laterally extending rods 35, 35 arranged one above the other and entering passageways in the adjacent end of the tube 20 formed by the grooved plug 36 disposed in said tube; the distal ends of said rods 35, 35 engaging the end of a compression spring 37 disposed in said tube in rear of the plug 36 and seated on the end of the rod 21 within the tube 20. A bar 35' inserted in sockets in the rods 35, 35 and engaging the inner end of the plug 36 limits the extent of outward movement of the rods 35, 35 by the spring 37.

The barrier is completed by the spaced vertical bars 5 each of which comprises a wooden rod 38 having an L-shaped rod 39, 39 at each end thereof; the laterally extending portions of said rods extending through appropriate holes in the sides of the tubes 20 of the cross bars and into the rods 21 and plugs 36 in said tubes. The rods and plugs are counterbored as at 40 in Fig. 8 and disposed in the counterbores are Washers having spring tongues 41 which grip the ends of the rods 39 when they are inserted in the holes therefor and prevent the removal thereof. At the same time, this assembly serves to lock the rods 21 and the plugs 36 against movement in the tubes 20. The horizontal portions of the rods 39 not only permit the necessary hinging action between the bars 5 and the cross bars, but also they are of sufficient length so that when the barrier is collapsed as in Fig. 3, there is no danger that the users hand will be pinched between the cross bar and any of the vertical bars 5.

In use, the barrier is opened out and placed in the passageway and adjusted so that with the side members engaging the opposite sides of the passageway, the side members are in the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1. Then by pressing down on the higher end of the cross bar 3, the cross bars are brought to horizontal position with incident compression of the springs 37 and consequent exertion of the force of the compressed springs against the side members against the sides of the passageway with sufficient force to resist lateral displacement of the barrier by a child or a pet animal. To remove the barrier, the vertically movable end of the upper cross bar is raised until the barrier is released from its frictional engagement. Where the barrier is constantly used in the same location, the adjustment above referred to need not be altered once it is set.

Referring finally to Figs. 9 and 10, there is shown a modified form of the invention in which the spring means by which the engagement with the passageway sides is achieved are disposed at the outside of the side member instead of being disposed within the tubes of the crossbars. In this form of the invention, the sleeves 28 and 29 are replaced by metal Ts 42, 42 with the side members 43 thereof disposed in the lines of the respective cross bars but at the opposite side of the rod 26. Slidingly disposed in the member 43 is a sleeve 44 having a closed outer end 45 carrying a rubber or plastic wall engaging button 46; the opposite end of said sleeve being an outwardly turned flange 47 engaging the inwardly turned flange 48 of the member 43 to retain the sleeve within said member. A compression spring 49'is disposed within the member 43 and sleeve 44 reacting between the side of the rod 26 and the closed end of the sleeve to urge the sleeve outwardly. Preferably the combined length of the member and the sleeve extended therefrom is substantially the width of the spacing between adjacent vertical members. This modification can be employed with all of the other existing parts by eliminating the springs 37 and substituting a plug 50 therefor. Thus by making the cross bar assemblies all of one length, the above modification can be added to increase the span of those barriers which are required for a space wider than that of the average door way. In this connection, it will be understood that the term passageway has been employed as a generic term for doorways or all similar locations in which a barrier of the above character can be employed.

While the foregoing specification has disclosed certain presently preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be understood that the invention is not to be deemed to be limited to the exact embodiments disclosed by way of example, and the invention includes all such changes and modifications in the parts, and in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as shall come within the purview of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A collapsible, fence-like barrier installable in and removable from a doorway or like passageway comprising a pair of upper and lower cross bars maintained in spaced parallel relation by a plurality of vertically disposed bars arranged in spaced, parallel relation along the length of said cross bars and pivotally connected at each end thereof to said cross bars by pivots parallel to each other and disposed transversely to the lengths of both said cross bars and said vertical bars, a first side bar hingedly connected to one end of each of said cross bars, a second side bar hingedly connected to the opposite ends of said cross bars; said last-named hinged connection including a sliding engagement longitudinally of said second side bar, and compression spring means effective under load to impose tight frictional engagement of said second side bar with the side of a doorway or the like engaged thereby; said cross bars being of such length that when said barrier is installed in a doorway or the like with said spring means uncompressed, said cross bars at the end thereof connected to said second side bar are required to be lifted to an inclined position extending from the upper portion of their sliding engagement to said hinged connection with said first side bar and upon movement of said cross bars to a horizontal position, said spring means will be compressed with resultant imposition of sufiicient frictional engagement between said side bars and the sides of the doorway or the like engaged thereby to resist lateral displacement.

2. A barrier as claimed in claim 1 in which said spring means is interposed between the hinged connections of said first side bar and the cross bars.

3. A barrier as claimed in claim 1 in which said spring means comprises a pair of compression springs extending laterally from said first side bar at the side thereof opposite the side connected to said cross bars.

4. A barrier as claimed in claim 1 in which said cross bars include adjustable means effective to vary the distance between said side bars with resultant accommodation of said barrier to doorways or the like of varying widths.

5. A barrier as claimed in claim 1 in which said cross bars are each connected to said second side bar by hinge means including a screw threaded adjustment manually operable to vary the distance between said second side bar and the cross bars with resultant accommodation of said barrier to doorways or the like of varying widths.

6. A barrier as claimed in claim 1 in which said vertical bars are offset laterally from a vertical plane extending longitudinally of and containing said cross bars.

7. A barrier as claimed in claim 1 in which said vertical bars each include a laterally extending hinge pin at each end thereof; said hinge pins being parallel to each other and extending into the sidewalls of said upper and lower cross bars, respectively.

8. A barrier as claimed in claim 1 in which the hinged connection between said lower cross bar and said first side bar is spaced from the lower end of said first side bar and in which the lower end of said sliding movement between said lower cross bar and said second side bar is substantially horizontally opposite the hinged connection between said lower cross bar and said first cross bar.

9. A collapsible, fence-like barrier installable in and removable from a doorway or like passageway comprising a pair of upper and lower cross bars arranged in vertically spaced parallel relation, a first side bar hingedly connected to one end of each of said cross bars, a second side bar hingedly connected to the opposite ends of said cross bars by means including a sliding engagement longitudinally of said second side bar, compression spring means effective under load to effect tight frictional engagement of said side bars with the sides of a doorway or the like; said cross bars being of such length that when said barrier is installed in a doorway or the like with said spring means uncompressed, said cross bars at the ends thereof hingedly and slidingly connected to said second cross bar are required to be lifted to an inclined position extending from the upper portion of their sliding engagement to said hinged connection with said first side bar and upon movement of said cross bars to a horizontal position, said springs will be compressed with imposition of sufficient frictional engagement between said side bars and the sides of the doorway or the like to resist lateral displacement, and other means hingedly connected to said cross bars between the ends thereof effective to maintain the parallel relation between said cross bars.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 17,911 Rexinger Dec. 23, 1930 2,348,561 Mutch May 9, 1944 2,642,134 Montefusco June 16, 1953 

